Surgical outcomes of transconjunctival sutureless 23-gauge vitrectomy with silicone oil injection

Aims

To evaluate the outcomes and complications of 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) with Silicone oil (SO) tamponade in complex vitreoretinal diseases.

Settings and Design

Ege university hospital ophthalmology department. Retrospective case series.

Materials and Methods

Forty eyes of 40 patients with diabetic tractional retinal detachment (DTRD) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) were included in the study. Vitrectomy using 23-gauge system with SO endotamponade was performed. Peroperative and postoperative complications, anatomical and visual results were evaluated.

Statistical analysis used

Paired Student''s t-test.

Results

Simultaneous cataract surgery was performed in 17 eyes. Peroperative complications were posterior capsule rupture during phacoemulsification in one patient, vitreous and retinal incarceration in one patient. One eye required suture placement at the end of surgery due to SO leakage. Postoperatively, a small subconjunctival SO bubble in three patients, and hypotony in one patient (6 mmHg) were observed. Recurrent retinal detachment under SO occurred in one patient. Mean follow-up was 6.5 months (±2.7). Pre- and postoperative mean visual acuity was 2.22±0.91 logMAR and 1.11±0.8 logMAR, respectively (P<0.001). Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) on the first postoperative day was lower than preoperative IOP (11.3 ±3.2 versus 14.0 ±2.4 mmHg) (P<0.001).

Conclusions

Twenty-three gauge instrumentation seems to be feasible, effective and safe for vitrectomy with SO injection in DTRD and PVR, and can be considered in the surgical management of these complex vitreoretinal diseases.     

Silicone oil tamponade in 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To describe 20 consecutive patients treated with 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade for retinal detachments (RD) of different etiologies. METHODS: Prospective case series. Twenty patients with complex retinal detachment were submitted to a primary 23-gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy: rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (RRD + PVR) in 7 cases, diabetic tractional retinal detachment (DTRD) in 5 cases, giant retinal tear (GRT) in 2 cases, RRD with multiple tears in 2 cases, GRT + uveitis in 1 case, RRD + uveitis in 1 case, DTRD + RRD in 1 case, and RRD + PVR with intraocular foreign body (IOFB) in 1 case. Length of postoperative follow up ranged from 3 to 14 months. RESULTS: Final visual acuity ranged from 20/25 to hand motion. Postoperatively, none of the 20 eyes had hypotony or leakage of silicone oil through the sclerotomies. Seventeen out of 20 (85%) had improved vision. CONCLUSION: Silicone oil tamponade was demonstrated to be a feasible option in conjunction with 23-g transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy to treat complex retinal detachment.     

Outcomes of transconjunctival sutureless 25-gauge vitrectomy with silicone oil infusion

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes and complications of surgical management with 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and silicone oil (SO) tamponade in complex vitreoretinal diseases. METHODS: Retrospective review of a consecutive, interventional case series at a single center. RESULTS: Thirty-five eyes of 35 patients were included in the study. The indications for vitrectomy included tractional retinal detachment (11 eyes), macular hole (6 eyes), proliferative vitreoretinopathy or recurrent retinal detachment (9 eyes), neovascular glaucoma (3 eyes), giant retinal tear (3 eyes), and pathologic myopia with epiretinal membrane or macular hole (3 eyes). All patients underwent 25-gauge PPV with either 1,000-centistoke (n = 31) or 5,000-centistoke (n = 4) SO tamponade infused through a 24-gauge angiocatheter. No intraoperative complications were noted. The median preoperative visual acuity was counting fingers (range, 20/50 to light perception). The median postoperative visual acuity after a median follow-up of 6 months (range, 1-19 months) was 20/200 (range, 20/30 to light perception). A small subconjunctival SO bleb was identified in two patients. Recurrent retinal detachment occurred in three patients. No significant complications relating to the use of SO in the setting of 25-gauge PPV occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Advances in 25-gauge PPV instrumentation have enabled expanding indications for 25-gauge PPV. 25-Gauge PPV with SO tamponade is safe and efficient and can be considered in the surgical management of complex vitreoretinal disease.     

Removal of silicone oil with 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy system

PURPOSE: To report a new and simple technique for silicone oil removal from pars plana with 25-gauge (G) transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy system (TSVS). METHODS: In this prospective, interventional clinical trial, 13 eyes underwent silicone oil (1000 centistokes) removal from pars plana passively, with 25-G TSVS, between January and May 2005. Main outcome measures were postoperative visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), silicone oil removal time, complications, and number of sutured sites. RESULTS: In all eyes silicone oil was removed successfully under sub-Tenon (n = 12) and topical (n = 1) anesthesia. The mean silicone oil removal time was 7.27 +/- 0.48 minutes. No intraoperative complications were reported. No suture placement was necessary. Mean postoperative follow-up period was 3.92 +/- 1.49 (range: 3-7) months. Visual acuity improved or stabilized in 11 (84.61%) eyes. Retinal redetachment occurred in 2 (15.38%) eyes resulting in a decrease in vision. Decrease in postoperative IOP was found only at 2 hours (P = 0.003). Postoperatively, transient hypotony at 2 hours (n = 1) and transient vitreous hemorrhage (n = 1) were noted. There were no cases of choroidal detachment, endophthalmitis, clinically significant corneal endothelial decompensation, or macular edema. CONCLUSION: Removal of silicone oil of 1000 centistokes with 25-G transconjunctival sutureless sclerotomies was effective and safe.     

Visual outcomes with 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of patients treated with 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy for various posterior segment conditions. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 81 consecutive 23-gauge vitrectomy cases done by a single vitreoretinal surgeon for various posterior segment conditions was done. All surgery was performed using the two-step 23-gauge system developed by Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center. All patients had at least 3-month follow-up. Main outcome measures included visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and operative complications. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 6.5 months (range 3-9 months). Mean overall preoperative visual acuity was 20/150 and final acuity was 20/70 (P < 0.0001). Mean intraocular pressure on postoperative day 1 was 14 mmHg (range 6-28 mmHg). There was a single case of intraoperative retinal tear that required treatment with cryotherapy. Twenty eyes of 48 phakic eyes (42%) had worsening of cataracts in the postoperative period. There were no postoperative complications of endophthalmitis or retinal detachment. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-three-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy is an effective surgical technique in the management of vitreoretinal diseases. Complications were rare and compared favorably with published literature on 20-gauge and 25-gauge surgery.     

Acute endophthalmitis following 23-gauge sutureless transconjunctival vitrectomy

We report a case that developed acute postoperative endophthalmitis after transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy using the 23-gauge system. A 66-year-old man underwent non-sutured 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for epimacular membrane. Since the patient developed signs of acute endophthalmitis and decreased visual acuity to counting fingers on the second postoperative day, re-vitrectomy with silicone oil was performed. The patient responded well to re-vitrectomy, injection of silicone oil and intravitreal antibiotic injections. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis was cultured from vitreous samples. Silicone oil was extracted at 11 months. The patient remains stable at 14 months with a final visual acuity of 20/50.     

Corneal topographic changes after transconjunctival 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy

To evaluate the topographic changes of cornea after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with the 23-gauge- (23-G) transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) system within the first postoperative month. In this prospective study, corneal topographic changes were evaluated in 24 eyes of 24 patients who underwent PPV with the 23-G TSV system. All eyes underwent computer-assisted videokeratography using NAVIS (Nidek Advanced Vision Information System) software preoperatively and at the first day, first week, and first month postoperatively. The topographic parameters that were analyzed statistically were the average corneal power (ACP), corneal surface cylinder (CSC), surface asymmetry index (SAI), and surface regularity index (SRI). Mean induced astigmatism was estimated by vector analysis software. The Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analysis. Mean ACP was 43.12 ± 1.16 diopters (D) preoperatively and 42.88 ± 1.44 D at first day (P = 0.301), 43.04 ± 1.14 D at first week (P = 0.796), and 43.32 ± 1.17 D at first month postoperatively (P = 0.187). Mean CSC was 0.61±0.32 D preoperatively and 0.71 ± 0.48 D at first day (P = 0.918), 0.60 ± 0.25 D at first week (P = 0.826), and 0.70 ± 0.33 D at first month postoperatively (P = 0.414). Mean SAI was 0.12 ± 0.05 preoperatively and 0.21 ± 0.16 at first day (P = 0.070), 0.15 ± 0.06 at first week (P = 0.176), and 0.16 ± 0.09 at first month postoperatively (P = 0.198). Mean SRI was 0.41 ± 0.37 preoperatively and 1.05 ± 0.41 at first day (P = 0.001), 0.54 ± 0.42 at first week (P = 0.211), and 0.41 ± 0.5 at first month postoperatively (P = 0.861). Mean surgically induced astigmatism was 0.67 ± 0.7 D at first day, 0.36 ± 0.2 D at first week, and 0.33 ± 0.17 D at first month postoperatively. Corneal surface and astigmatic changes were observed to be insignificant in the early postoperative period after PPV with the 23-G TSV system.     

Outcome of 23-gauge sutureless transconjunctival vitrectomy for endophthalmitis

PURPOSE: To review the outcomes of 23-gauge transconjunctival vitrectomy in patients with postoperative endophthalmitis. METHODS: Non-randomized, interventional case series of patients with postoperative endophthalmitis over a 1-year period. RESULTS: 23-gauge transconjunctival vitrectomy was performed on 6 patients with a mean age of 67.7 years without intraoperative or postoperative complications. There were no cases of postoperative hypotony or wound leak. The mean change in IOP was -4.2 mmHg compared to the preoperative IOP (P=0.239). Final VA improved significantly compared to preoperative VA (P=0.062), with VA of at least 20/40 in 5 of 6 patients (83.3%). CONCLUSIONS: 23-gauge transconjunctival vitrectomy is a useful technique for treating postoperative endophthalmitis.     

23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy in treatment of post-operative endophthalmitis

Purpose

To report the safety and efficacy of 23-gauge (23-G) transconjunctival vitrectomy (TSV) in the surgical management of postoperative endophthalmitis.

Materials and Methods

Ten consecutive patients underwent a 23-G TSV in 2008–2010 after cataract surgery (n?=?5) or filtrating surgery (n?=?5), and were prospectively studied with a minimum follow-up of 6?months. TSV was performed within a median delay of 1?day after the diagnosis, after one or two injections of intravitreal antibiotics (vancomycin, ceftazidime). Conventional cultures (brain heart infusion media) and/or panbacterial PCR were performed on aqueous humor and/or vitreous samples.

Results

Initial visual acuity was less than or equal to hand motion in all cases, and clinical findings included hypopyon (80%), pupillary fibrin membrane (80%), and dense vitreitis (4+, 100%). The bacteria identified were Gram-positive cocci in 60% of the cases (coagulase-negative staphylococci, 20%; streptococcus, 40%) and Gram-negative bacilli in 10% (moraxella lacunata). All patients had central and peripheral vitrectomy (mean duration, 58.6?±?16?min). No intraoperative complications were noted. Two patients developed retinal detachment postoperatively and were reoperated. The final visual vision was 20/400 for two patients and 20/50 or better for the other patients.

Conclusion

23-G TSV allows the surgeon to meet the same objectives as the 20-G technique for the treatment of endophthalmitis.     

Intraoperative iatrogenic peripheral retinal break in 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy versus 20-gauge conventional vitrectomy

Background

To compare the incidence of intraoperative iatrogenic peripheral retinal breaks (IPRBs) during 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) and conventional 20-gauge vitrectomy for various indications.

Methods

This was a single-center, comparative, retrospective, interventional case series of 973 23-gauge TSVs and 402 conventional 20-gauge vitrectomies done by two surgeons between January 2004 and December 2009. The incidence rate of intraoperative IPRBs and risk factors were analyzed in association with various clinical and surgical factors.

Results

IPRBs occurred significantly less often during 23-gauge TSV (16 of 973 cases, 1.6 %) than during conventional vitrectomy (25 of 402 cases, 6.2 %, P?<?0.001). Univariate analysis revealed that conventional vitrectomy and operation time were risk factors for the complication. Multivariate logistic regression analysis also revealed that conventional vitrectomy (P?=?0.03, OR?=?2.91), operation time (P?<?0.01, OR?=?1.01), and intraoperative induction of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD, P?=?0.04, OR?=?1.97) were risk factors for IPRBs.

Conclusions

The 23-gauge TSV procedure with the trocar system has a lower incidence of intraoperative IPRBs than conventional 20-gauge vitrectomy. Longer operation time and induction of PVD are also independent risk factors of the complication.     

The safety and efficacy of transconjunctival sutureless 23-gauge vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitreoretinal surgery using a 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) system for various vitreoretinal diseases. METHODS: A retrospective, consecutive, interventional case series was performed for 40 eyes of 40 patients. The patients underwent vitreoretinal procedures using the 23-gauge TSV system, including idiopathic epiretinal membrane (n=7), vitreous hemorrhage (n=11), diabetic macular edema (n=10), macular hole (n=5), vitreomacular traction syndrome (n=5), diabetic tractional retinal detachment (n=1), and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (n=1). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and intra- and post-operative complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Intraoperative suture placement was necessary in 3 eyes (7.5%). The median BCVA improved from 20/400 (LogMAR, 1.21+/-0.63) to 20/140 (LogMAR, 0.83+/-0.48) at 1 week (p=0.003), 20/100 (LogMAR, 0.85+/-0.65) at 1 month (p=0.002), 20/100 (LogMAR, 0.73+/-0.6) at 3 months (p=0.001). In 1 eye, IOP was 5 mmHg at 2 hours and 4 mmHg at 5 hours, but none of the eyes showed hypotony after 1 postoperative day. No serous postoperative complications were observed during a mean follow-up of 8.4+/-3.4 months (range 3-13 months) CONCLUSIONS: The 23-gauge TSV system shows promise as an effective and safe technique for a variety of vitreoretinal procedures. It appears to be a less traumatic, more convenient alternative to 20-gauge vitrectomy in some indications.     

Passive removal of silicone oil with a 25-gauge sutureless system

Purpose To report the outcome of a new sutureless technique for passive removal of silicone oil with a 25-gauge system. Methods Between January 2005 and February 2006, 32 patients (32 eyes) underwent passive silicone oil removal with a 25-gauge system in a prospective, interventional case series in our hospital. Main data recorded were visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), silicone oil removal time, complications, and number of sutured sites. Results Mean follow-up was 11.46 ± 3.98 months. Mean silicone oil removal time was 8.93 ± 0.85 (range, 7.0–11.5) min. A suture was placed in only one eye because of leakage. Visual acuity improved in 27 eyes (86.4%), and stabilized in five eyes (15.6%). IOP decreased significantly at all visits during follow-up. On day one, four eyes (12.5%) were hypotonous. Choroidal folds were observed in two eyes (6.25%). No other complications were noted. Conclusions Passive removal of silicone oil with a 25-gauge sutureless technique was effective for 1000 centistokes of oil. Transient hypotony in the early postoperative period did not adversely affect the visual outcomes. Presented as a paper at the Cannes Retina Festival, 24th Annual ASRS and 6th Annual EVRS Meeting, 12 September 2006     

Surgically induced astigmatism in combined phacoemulsification and vitrectomy; 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy versus 20-gauge standard vitrectomy

Background

To study the surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) in combined phacoemulsification with 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) versus combined phacoemulsification with 20-gauge standard vitrectomy.

Methods

This is a prospective comparative study comprised of 40 eyes from 37 consecutive patients. Twenty eyes (19 patients) underwent combined phacoemulsification and 23-gauge TSV, and 20 eyes (18 patients) underwent combined phacoemulsification and 20-gauge standard vitrectomy. Corneal topography was obtained preoperatively and postoperatively at weeks 1, 4, 8, and 12. Main outcome measurement was SIA consisting of astigmatic amplitude and axis from cross cylinder form calculated by rectangular coordinate method using the Holladay-Cravy-Koch formula.

Results

The mean SIA was 1.07?±?0.57 diopters (D) in the 23-gauge TSV group and 2.09?±?0.81 D in the 20-gauge group at postoperative week 1. SIA of both groups at weeks 4, 8, and 12 significantly decreased from the SIA at postoperative week 1 (p?<?0.0001 for all 3 weeks). SIA of the 23-gauge TSV group was significantly less than that of the 20-gauge standard vitrectomy group at each postoperative period (p?=?0.001). SIA of the gas tamponade group in the 23-gauge TSV was significantly greater than that of the non-gas tamponade group at postoperative week one (p?=?0.039). Shifts of axis to other meridians returned to preoperative meridian in 12 eyes (85.7%) for the 23-gauge group and seven eyes (43.8%) for the 20-gauge group.

Conclusion

Combined phacoemulsification and pars plana vitrectomy (23-gauge and 20-gauge) could induce significant SIA at postoperative week 1, and decrease over 3 months. However, 23-gauge TSV showed less SIA and early stabilization compared to the 20-gauge standard vitrectomy.     

Efficacy and safety of active silicone oil removal through a 23-gauge transconjunctival cannula using an external vacuum pump

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of active removal of silicone oil with low and high viscosity through a 23-gauge transconjunctival cannula using an external vacuum pump. METHODS: This study was conducted as a prospective, interventional case series. A total of 22 eyes of 21 patients [1000 centistokes (cSt): 17 eyes, 5700 cSt: 5 eyes] were included in this study. All patients underwent active silicone oil removal via the entire lumen of a 23-gauge microcannula with suction pressure of a 650-700 mm Hg vacuum using an external vacuum pump. A tubing adaptor from the Total Plus Pak® (Alcon, Fort Worth, USA) was used to join the microcannula and silicone vacuum tube connected to an external vacuum pump. Main outcome measures were mean removal time, changes of intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual acuity, and intraoperative and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Mean removal time (min) was 1.49±0.43 for 1000 cSt and 7.12±1.27 for 5700 cSt. The IOP was 18.57±7.48 mm Hg at baseline, 11.68±4.55 mm Hg at day 1 postoperatively (P<0.001), and 15.95±4.92, 16.82±3.81, 17.41±3.50, and 17.09±3.01 mm Hg after one week, one month, three months, and six months, respectively. All patients showed improved or stabilized visual acuity. There was no occurrence of intraoperative or postoperative complications during the follow up period. CONCLUSION: This technique for active removal of silicone oil through a 23-gauge cannula using an external vacuum pump is fast, effective, and safe as well as economical for silicone oil with both low and high viscosity in all eyes with pseudophakia, aphakia, or phakia.